Nom de Plume

We ended up in Oregon this weekend, which was a heck of a drive, but so gorgeous along Highway 101. (At this point, the only stretch we haven’t driven is from San Francisco to the southern part of Oregon.) Found a camp site and then hit the beach at a state park where we parked along the road, and lugged the surfboards down half a mile of primeval looking forest trail (well, except for the concrete walkway.). The beach was a little cove, filled with surfers. Cold water, bit of a breeze. Lovely. After surfing, went to the Crab Festival in Wheeler.

The day is over, the week is over, and we’re headed off to Westport to surf this weekend. Haven’t reserved a campsite, so may be bit of a battle–but if we can’t find anything there, may head up the coast. There’s another spot we keep meaning to check out.

What to do when your brain feels fried?

From the inbox

>The 14 Characteristics of Fascism
>by Lawrence Britt
>Spring 2003
>Free Inquiry magazine
>
>
>Political scientist Dr. Lawrence Britt recently wrote an article about
>fascism (“Fascism Anyone?,” Free Inquiry, Spring
>2003, page 20). Studying the fascist regimes of Hitler (Germany),
>Mussolini (Italy), Franco (Spain), Suharto
>(Indonesia), and Pinochet (Chile), Dr. Britt found they all had 14
>elements in common. He calls these the identifying
>characteristics of fascism. The excerpt is in accordance with the
>magazine’s policy.
>
>The 14 characteristics are:
>
>Powerful and Continuing Nationalism
>Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottoes,
slogans,
>symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags
>are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public
displays.
>
>
>Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights
>Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in
>fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can
>be ignored in certain cases because of “need.” The people tend to look
the
>other way or even approve of torture, summary
>executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.
>
>
>Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause
>The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need
to
>eliminate a perceived common threat or foe:
>racial , ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists;
socialists,
>terrorists, etc.
>
>
>Supremacy of the Military
>Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given
a
>disproportionate amount of government funding,
>and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are

>glamorized.
>
>
>Rampant Sexism
>The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively
>male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional
>gender roles are made more rigid. Opposition to abortion is high, as is

>homophobia and anti-gay legislation and national
>policy.
>
>
>Controlled Mass Media
>Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but in
other
>cases, the media is indirectly controlled by
>government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and
executives.
>Censorship, especially in war time, is very
>common.
>
>
>Obsession with National Security
>Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.
>
>
>Religion and Government are Intertwined
>Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in
the
>nation as a tool to manipulate public
>opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government
>leaders, even when the major tenets of the
>religion are diametrically opposed to the government’s policies or
actions.
>
>
>Corporate Power is Protected
>The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are
the
>ones who put the government leaders into
>power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship
and
>power elite.
>
>
>Labor Power is Suppressed
>Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a
fascist
>government, labor unions are either
>eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed .
>
>
>Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts
>Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher
>education, and academia. It is not uncommon for
>professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free
>expression in the arts is openly attacked, and
>governments often refuse to fund the arts.
>
>
>Obsession with Crime and Punishment
>Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to
>enforce laws. The people are often willing to
>overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of
>patriotism. There is often a national police force
>with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations.
>
>
>Rampant Cronyism and Corruption
>Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and
>associates who appoint each other to government
>positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their
>friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in
>fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be
>appropriated or even outright stolen by government
>leaders.
>
>
>Fraudulent Elections
>Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times

>elections are manipulated by smear campaigns
>against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of
legislation
>to control voting numbers or political
>district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations
also
>typically use their judiciaries to manipulate
>or control elections.
>
>
>
>Copyright C 2003 Free Inquiry magazine
>Reprinted for Fair Use Only.

So a contractor has been indicted for prison abuse in Afghanistan. Is it just me or does it seem we’re going after the wrong people? And it’s just going to continue. I’m guessing Bush is pumped Reagan died; it gave him a respite from the Abu Ghraib scandal. But we’re back on it, and back to passing the buck.

Rumsfeld needs to resign.

Bush needs to be ousted from the White House.

And I need to get back to work.

Pretty good Greek restaurant in Eastlake (Porta) last night, and we drowned our house-hunting sorrows in too much retsina. Okay, it was only a half carafe, but I think the turpentine fumes make the stuff even more intoxiating. Now, having a hard time waking up.

Gorgeous, gorgeous day. Not too hot, not too cold. I need a digital camera.

Alas, we didn’t get the house. And there’s not a heck of a lot out there either.

From the inbox

The Perfect Dress

Jennifer’s wedding day was fast approaching. Nothing could dampen her excitement – not even her parents’ nasty divorce. Her mother had found the PERFECT dress to wear and would be the best dressed mother of the bride ever!

A week later, Jennifer was horrified to learn that her father’s new young wife had bought the exact same dress! Jennifer asked her to exchange it, but she refused. “Absolutely not. I look like a million bucks in this dress, and I’m wearing it,” she replied.

Jennifer told her mother, Sheila, who graciously said, “Never mind sweetheart. I’ll get another dress. After all, it’s your special day.”

A few ! days later, they went shopping and did find another gorgeous dress. When they stopped for lunch, Jennifer asked her mother, “Aren’t you going to return the other dress? You really don’t have another occasion where you could wear it.”

Sheila just smiled and replied, “Of course I do, dear. I’m wearing it to the rehearsal dinner!”

Well, Mother found a painting in a Romanian antique store that she purchased for 50 Euros, and has now found that he’s a fairly well-known Hungarian painter.

Other than that, I’ve been inducted into chiropractic quackery. Apparently, my neck is way out of whack, which is why I can’t move it. Makes sense. I even saw the x-rays, and it’s pretty wild. Only thing is, I’m feeling rather bullied. Last night, I walked out with 50 appointments and a 45 dollar pillow. I need to find someone else.

It’s Friday, the day is dragging–and I’ve got a ton to do. Tonight, however, I am going to Harry Potter with or without Steve.

How the bee got its knees